Media Center TV Tuner
When I first read Dmitry Shulga’s question, I thought it wouldn’t be too much of an issue – but for safe measure, I asked Jake for his most expert opinion:
I have been watching your videos on youtube and you’ve got me hooked. You really know your stuff I am sure you could somehow handle my question, if not, I understand that you aer a busy man. Well, here goes, I am looking into investing into a desktop computer which comes with a built in TV Tuner and Vista/Media Center pre-installed. There is a possibility that once I get this desktop my outdated wireless adapter will not work with since it works fine on Vista (the whole driver issue may have something to do with it). My question is, if I want to re-install the OS, I would install the XP SP2 which I own, would that still give me access to use the TV Tuner even though my XP version is not Media Center? The TV Tuner with the desktop comes with no additional software so it uses the Media Center.
Jake responded: “Assuming it’s a name brand tuner, there’s likely software available from the manufacturer. Probably the biggest challenge would be in getting a compatible MPEG-2 decoder for the tuner, which may or may not be provided in the online support section of the manufacturer’s website. There’s always Sage TV or Beyond TV as alternatives which should be compatible all the way back to Windows 98.”
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6 Comments
Left Of Center
August 4th, 2007
at 11:08am
Chris Pirillo »Media Center TV TunerPosted 9 minutes ago
The Chris Pirillo Show
August 4th, 2007
at 1:22pm
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Rakesh Agrawal
August 5th, 2007
at 8:45am
Hey Dmitry, Basically, you shouldn’t have any problem using your TV tuner under Windows XP. To my knowledge there are no TV tuner cards out there that ONLY work under Vista. In fact, the thing that most people have to worry about is whether their TV tuner card will work under Vista when upgrading to it from Windows XP. The other thing is that all TV tuner cards that work under Media Center Edition (Vista or Windows XP) have a certain baseline of functionality and compatibility that make them work with most 3rd party software packages. So you can count on what you have working in our Beyond TV software or with most other 3rd party software packages. Sincerely, Rakesh (SnapStream)
Don L
August 5th, 2007
at 4:41pm
There are always free 3rd party PVR software offerings for use in Windows from 2000 to Vista. The one I use & love is from New Zealand & called GB-PVR. Another is Media Portal (very difficult to set up)…while a 3rd free one is from Yahoo (as easy as Media Center…only with ads).
Have used Media Center 2005…but I find it a poor choice. The files are recorded in a proprietary Microsoft format…recognizes broadcast flags sent out with the programming. The latter so that you can’t use the recorded file on anything but the PC it was recorded on.
Something you do need to realize that with any 3rd party product used in the US…after September 1st, 2007…you will lose access to Zap2it US TV listings. Yahoo & Media Center will still have access…due to paying Zap2it for the use of the listings…but free use will be out.
Budhadeb Hembram
October 3rd, 2007
at 1:19pm
Hello , i have windows Media Center edition 2005 Operating System.
Its works better. Then i buy Frontech Tv Tuner card Model No-JIL-0606.Its also good (Value for Money). It has remote, MPEG-2 version)
But i try to see Tv with my Media Center it show No Hardware.Use proper hardware and software..So i see tv with my tv tuner Bundled softwares.
Can u help me. How i see TV with my Media Center?
Plz help me. And reply me.
scott
February 15th, 2009
at 8:50am
hey i need a tuner for my windows media center but dont know wheree too gett one can u help mee out?